Metro-audiometer



June 1963 M. E. BERNSTEIN METRO-AUDIOMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1960 Know MALGOLM E. BERNSTE/N INVENTOR.

BY Mm yfw ATTORNE Y FIG. 2.

June 18, 1963 BERNSTElN 3,093,914

METRO-AUDIOMETER Filed March 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 alia EM MALCOLM E. BER/VSTE IN IIQOICI.

nnunnn ATTORNEY 3,093,914 Patented June 18, 1963 ice 3,093,914 METRU-AUDIOMETER Malcolm E. Bernstein, 822 Milford Mill Road, Baltimore 8, Md. Filed Mar. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 12,478 1 Claim. (Cl. 35-65) This invention relates generally to educational apparatus, and more particularly, it pertains to an electronic transistorized metronome device which can be utilized in the training of speakers.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of copending US. patent application of Malcolm E. Bernstein, Serial No. 799,601, filed March 16, 1959, now abandoned, for Metro-Audiometer.

In order to present a talk or idea-implanting speech with force and conviction, it is well-known that proper delivery of the speech by a speaker is of the essence. Only spoken lines having rhythmic flow, intonation or inflection in proper timing can be interest-rousing to an audience. The projection of the personality of the speaker and his idea or product is mainly through his speech and therewith his ability to gain or lose the attention of the listening audience.

A speaker may have the problem of too rapid speech, which results in anxiety or lack of comprehension on the part of the listening audience. On the other hand, a slow, bland delivery results in loss of interest by the listening audience. In addition, the speaker may have the problem of not being able to speak continuously over a period of time.

It is most important for anyone delivering a talk or speech to phonate immediately without any additional control of the breath, discomfort, or warm-up. Most untrained speakers are nervous and very apprehensive because they cannot control or beautifully deliver lines in a speech at all times and under all circumstances. The apparatus of the present invention can be used to achieve full phonation of a speaker.

It is well-known that humming by a performer immediately causes the vocal chords to be put into action and emit sound. However, once the performer has gotten to the focal point through the hum, immediate speech is a natural followup. In brief, humming, speaking, and singing .all must have instant sound, Without pausing for additional breath, because once the performer has arrived at a point to deliver sound, he is immediately ready to carry through the motion of speech without any additional physical or mental gymnastics.

It is also to be pointed out that through the hum, immediate speech of the performer is more sonorous and controlled. The performer from that point can increase intensities volumewise and without moving a muscle, decrease volume to a whisper and still retain the intensities. As a voice builder and a breath builder which Without question is the key to understanding delivery of the spoken Word, thoughts can be measured and weighed to communicate the real meaning.

A performer, delivering lines based on his own innate lung power, has abilities which vary from five to ten seconds to as much as ten (10) to fifteen seconds. Thus, without full realization of just how long fifteen (15) seconds is in speaking, the performer often throws himself into panic when he realizes that he is gasping for breath, and as a result breaks continuity of speech.

'In the electronic transistorized metronome of the present invention, the sound of the beat of the metronome gives the sensation of pulse and consequently acquaints the student with the rapidity or slowness of this speech. Through this, the student senses the proper speed for effective speaking or communication of the thought he Wishes to convey to the listening audience.

Together with regulation of speech cadence, regulation of speech intensity is accomplished by the speaker comparing his delivery with predetermined desirable excursions of the needle of a meter.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an electronic transistorized metronome which can be utilized to give audible or visual indications of heat or both simultaneously.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electronic transistorized metronome circuit arrangement which can be utilized for training speakers in continuous voice inflection and maintaining continuity for the spoken phrase.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electronic transistorized metronome which is economical to manufacture, easy to maintain, and which is an effective and eificient educational instrument for use in training persons in speech delivery.

It is another object of this invention to provide an educational instrument for training a speaker in voice inflection and intensity, and to aid in properly grouping and spacing uttered phrases.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a metronome-.audiometer which is compact, transistorized, and which is economical to manufacture, easy to use and maintain, and which is effective and efllcient in use for training in speech delivery.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metronome-audiometer incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sound beat circuit utilized in conjunction with the metronome-audiometer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a flasher circuit utilized in conjunction with the metronome-audimeter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an audiometer circuit; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electronic transistorized metronome.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a metronomeaudiometer 10 is shown housed in a console case 18. A meter 100, a mechanical timer 102, a loudspeaker 24, and neon bulb 40 are mounted on the case 18 for best visual or audio perception.

A microphone input jack 62 for a microphone 60, a gain control potentiometer 66, a beat control rheostat 28, and a flasher control rheostat 46 are arranged upon the front of the case 18 for best handling convenience.

The mechanical timer 102 is preferably of a conventional elapsed time bell signaling type including visual indication of remaining time.

The neon bulb 4t} and the flasher control rheostat 46 are series-connected with a limiting resistor 44 and an electric battery 48, as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, a condenser 42 is shunt connected across the neon bulb 40 to comprise a relaxation flasher circuit 14. The time constant of the relaxation flasher circuit 14 is determined by the product of the capacitance of the condenser 42 and the total resistance of the rheostat 46, and. the resistor 44. The flash rate of the circuit 14 is thus adjustable by means of the rheostat 46.

A simple form of a sound beat circuit 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2. A loudspeaker 24 is tapped across a portion of a transformer 22 which performs feedback in a blockmg oscillator circuitry with a common-emitter connected transistor 20. The beat control rheostat 28 and a timing,

condenser 32 are connected for base-biasing the transistor which receives electrical energy from a battery 26. The function of circuit 12 is to produce metronome-type clicks in the loudspeaker 24. The period of these clicks in circuit 12 is determined by the RC product of the condenser 32 and the rheostat 28 and thus is adjustable as desired.

FIG. 4 illustrates an audiometer circuit 16. Circuit 16 in the preferred form of the invention shown consists of two transistor 78 and 86 arrangd for cascade audio amplification. Transistors 78 and 86 are grounded-emitter connected and have an input transformer 64, an interstage transformer 80, and an output transformer 90.

A pair of resistors 76 and 84 are provided in the circuit 16 for base-biasing the transistors 78 and 86, and an associated pair of condensers 70 and 82 serve in a DC. blocking function therefor. Another condenser 88 connected across the output of transistor 86 in circuit 16 is useful in suppressing undesirable oscillations or in limiting frequency response thereof.

The previously mentioned potentiometer 66 is provided with a series-limiting resistor 68, and it is connected as shown in the input to transistor 78. The amplification of audio signals applied to the microphone jack 62. can thus be readily controlled in the circuit 16.

The output transformer 90 feeds an integrating transistor 96. For this function, a resistor 94 is connected directly to ground, rather than to conventional battery bias, and to the base input side of the coupling condenser 92, as shown in FIG. 4. By operating the transistor 96 with base bias current, not only will it amplify the signal, but it will also rectify it. The collector current of tran sistor 96, being a function of the amplified applied signal, will be indicated on the meter 101} as needle indicator fluctuations.

The meter 100, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is a DC. microammeter which is connected in the output of transistor 96, and it is shunted by a damping condenser 98. An electric battery 72 supplies the energy to power the audiometer circuit 16.

Battery saving switches and 74 are provided as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, and may be ganged to their respective rheostat 28 and potentiometer 66 in conventional manner.

In use, the student sets a suitable cadence into the metronome-audiometer, as shown in FIG. 1, by means of the sound heat control rheostat 28, or by the flasher control rheostat 46 if the speaker metronome is objectionable. The gain control potentiometer 66 is set so as. tocenter the peaks of indication of meter 108 which result from a chosen voice level to microphone 60. The mechanicaltimer 102 is then cocked to the desired speech length and the speech begins.

The student times his delivery so that key words are spoken with emphasis upon the metronome signal given by either the sound beat speaker or the flasher. His speech inflections are visible as excursions of the needle of meter 100, and, additionally, he is warned thereby if his voice amplitude drops off or builds up too greatly. He is. able to observe the progress of his speech on the timer 102 and, if necessary, he can adjust the cadence beat to arrive at a satisfactory closing effort.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is schematically depicteda preferred transistorized metronome circuit which can be used to give audible or visual indication-s or both simultaneously. This circuit includes a first transistor 110, together with an associated transistor 122, together with an associated transformer capacitor, resistor, and battery components'comprising a blocking oscillator arrangement.

To understand this first transistor portion of the metronome circuit, let there temporarily be considered a common point A as the electrical return of the positive side or a battery 118. This common point A is also the con- 4 nection to the emitter E of the transistor 110 and the terminal S of the secondary coil S of a transformer 112.

The negative side of the battery 118 is connected to a terminal P of the primary coil P of the trans-former 112. The other terminal P of primary coil P is connected to the collector C of the transistor 1 10. The other terminal S of the secondary coil S is connected through a capacitor 114 to the base B of the transistor 110 which additionally connects to a resistor 116.

The resistor 116 is serially connected to a variable resistor in the circuit to form a bias path from the base B of the transistor 110 to the negative side of the battery 118. Current from the battery flows through the primary coil P of the transformer 112 to the collector C of transistor 110. This current induces a voltage in the secondary coil S of the transformer 112 which causes the capacitor 114 to charge rapidly through the base-emitter circuit BE.

As capacitor 114 starts to charge, the base current change in the transistor 110 causes the collector current to increase, thereby cumulatively increasing the secondary voltage. Both base and collector currents of the transistor 110 are brought to a peak when capacitor 114 is fully charged. As the voltage thereacross approaches a maximum, the charging current starts to decrease. This causes the base and collector currents of the transistor 118 to drop. The drop in collector current reverses the polarity of the voltage induced in the secondary coil S of transformer 112.

Since the conductivity of base-emitter circuit BE of transistor 110 is unidirectional, the capacitor 114 can only discharge through resistors 115 and 116. The resulting Wave-form is :an abrupt pulse of current somewhat flat-topped, followed by a relatively long period of practically no current flow with the repetition time determined by the resistance-capacitance product of resistors 115 and 116, totalizcd, and capacitor 114. This Wave form is suitable for driving a loud speaker 12f) in metronome service. The loud speaker 120 is shown connected to taps T and T of the secondary coil S of the transformer 112 for this purpose.

In the current path from point A to the positive side of battery 118, there is now to be considered the basecollector circut B C :of an emitter-follower connected second transistor 122. A bias resistor 124 from emitter E to base B of the second transistor 122 limits the current in its emitter-collector circuit E --C to a low value. Under these conditions, a battery 126- will not light a serially connected incandescent lamp 128 when connected to the emitter E and collector C of transistor 122 as shown.

With each pulse of the blocking-oscillator connected first transistor 118, a pulse of current flows, as related, between its collector C and emitter E. This current returns through battery 118 and the collector-base circuit C -B of the second transistor 122 to common point A and causes a large increase in the emitter-to-collector current from battery 126. Consequently, the lamp flashes in unison with the pulsing of the first transistor 110 and with the pulse clicks emanating from the speaker 120.

If it is desired to operate the metronome circuit visually indicated only or audibly indicated only, a two-pole three-position switch 130 may be connected so that one pole SW1 thereof, is in circuit with the loudspeaker 120 and the other pole SW2 is in circuit with the lamp 128. In the center position, as shown, for the switch poles SW1 and SW2 of switch 130 both the speaker 120' and lamp 128 are in circuit. a

In the right throw position of the switch 131), the circuit to lamp 128 is opened and an equivalent resistor, not shown, is put in the circuit, but the speaker 121] remains connected. In the left throw position from center, the switch 138 disconnects the speaker 120 but completes the lamp circuiting.

To avoid a change in the discharge circuit of capacitor 114 and a resulting undesirable repetition rate change of the pulsing when the bulb 128 is switched out, the equivalent resistor, not shown, chosen of the same ohmic value of the bulb 128, is switched in.

The metronome may be tunned on or on by opening the circuits her the batteries 118 and 126 with a double pole switch 134. Switch 136 is preferably linked to a variable arm 136 which by changing the resistance value of resistor 115 alters the discharge rate of capacitor 114. Thus, the same control knob can alter the metronome heat time as desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teac'n ings. It is, therefiore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

An educational device for training a speaker in voice inflection and intensity, comprising in combination, a sound beat circuit including a loudspeaker for pnoducing rnetronomenype clicks in said loudspeaker and an audiorneter circuit containing at least two transistors arranged for cascade audio amplification, said transistors being grounded-emitter connected, means including an input transformer for the first of said two transistors, :a microphone, means for connecting said microphone to the input of said input transformer, means including a potentiometer for coupling the output of said input trans; former to the first of said two transistors, so that the amplification of audio signals applied to said microphone and subsequently to said input transformer can be controlled, means inclu-ding an interstage transformer for coupling the output of the first of said two transistors to the input of the second of said two transistors, an output transformer connected to the output of the second of said two transistors, an integrating transistor connected to the output of said output transformer, said output transformer and integrating transistor being utilized to rectify the output signal from the said second transistor, a visual indicating device including a DC, micnoamrneter connected to the output of the integrating transistor for indicating by the output signal thereof the excursions of speech inflections and the amplitude of the voice of the speaker into said microphone as well the clicks produced by the sound beat circuit so that deflections of said rnicroammeter caused by said sound beat circuit will combine with the cadence of the voice of the speaker to cause greater deflections of said microarnmeter when proper cadence is used.

References (iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,144,873 Dirnond Jan. 24, 1939 2,212,431 Bly Aug. 20, 1940 2,495,426 Schwartzberg Ian. 24, 1950 2,522,492 Andersen Sept. 19, 1950 2,613,282 Scaife Oct. 7, 1952 2,747,455 Spracklen et a1. May 29, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Radio and Television News Magazine, January 1954, pages 50, 51 and 158.

Radio and Television News Magazine, May 1950, pages 45 and 143. 

